Now Lions must soar at altitude

WE HAVE a series. At least that was the general consensus in the press box at the final whistle. That, I hope, is not wishful thinking.

Astonishingly, the Lions could and possibly should have won a game that they really had no right to on the basis of their performance in the first 60 minutes. Anyone suggesting they would leave Durban in a positive frame of mind when trailing by 19 points early in the second half might have been shepherded towards a padded van.

History suggests the Lions find it almost impossible to recover an opening test defeat and win a series and that is without having to contend with the demands of altitude. Such was the influence of an incredible midfield performance from the majestic pairing of Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll, anything is possible. They offer hope at a time when the Lions tour party must accentuate the positives from a bizarre test match. One wonders what would have happened if the dynamic duo had any set-piece dominance to work from in that opening half.